I Got Issues *

“Please, don’t let it be a Muslim…”

Yes, a common thought that runs through my mind and that of many Muslims around the world whenever some horrible criminal act is committed, especially to one of my fellow  Americans.  It shouldn’t be that way, but it is, thanks to the monsters that attempted to hijack my peaceful religion back on 9/11/2001.  And for all you haters, yes, Islam is a peaceful religion, as is Judaism and Christianity before it – and like those before it, each had a way of dealing with non-believers that doesn’t seem very nice by today’s standards.  (Familiar with the many crusades that lasted hundreds of years led by popes and borne from the pages of the bible?)  I digress.

On edge since the horror in Boston several weeks ago, when two idiot brothers did the unthinkable as they set out to injure and kill innocent people.  Wondered then, like the many times before 9/11 when acts of terror were committed, what makes a person want to hurt or kill another living creature?

Then it happened again over the past few days: terror-struck and I silently prayed, “don’t let it be a Muslim that committed these horrible acts.”

An 8-year old girl was stabbed to death Saturday in her home in northern California and the killer is still at large.  What kind of monster would reign terror on a community with such an act?  There are over 100 police involved in this manhunt and I pray they find those responsible soon.

Mass at an Albuquerque, NM church had just ended yesterday when a 24-year old whack job jumped the pews and raced toward the choir with intent on injuring and killing innocent people.  Lawrence Capener stabbed 4 people before he was stopped by quick-thinking parishioners.  Thank God that monster was stopped!

And of course, the ricin-lacing mess out of Mississippi that had me wondering who would want to expose our president and other officials to something lethal like ricin — who would want these people dead?  We now know it wasn’t the Elvis impersonator and that some knucklehead, James Dutschke from Tupelo, Mississippi is believed to be the terrorist.  And again, in silence, “please don’t let him be Muslim.”

And these are the terror cases in the past several days that got national attention — forget the many muggings, murders, car jacks, and so on, that terrorize neighborhoods all over this country every day.  It’s a disgrace but I admit, I like what the media is doing.

The media, along with many of our brave politicians (whom are seated high above the fray and love this approach), are reporting and expounding on the ethnicity and religious affiliation of these perverted beings.  Not saying I agree with this practice of reporting out the purported religious background of those that bring terror into our lives, but what the heck, the balls been rolling since 2001, so let’s do it — let’s keep score of these monsters. I know it increases hate crimes as the ignorant among the masses get riled and want to go out and do harm to others, but what a small price to pay I suppose.  (Okay, haters going out and terrorizing a group based on color of skin, ethnicity or religious beliefs.  Having trouble shaking off the irony of it all.)

If you haven’t detected my tounge-in-cheek post by now then you’ve missed my point entirely.  Seriously?  Do we really want to keep track of and report on the ethnic and religious background of all people who bring terror into our lives?  That’s a ridiculous suggestion and a foolish suggestion. Then why is it acceptable when the criminal is a Muslim?

Wash your hands, asshole

It happened again today, it’s disgusting and I’m motivated to write about. What is up with men that don’t wash their hands after using the bathroom? I don’t give a shit if you just stop in the men’s room to check out your hair in the mirror – you’re there, there may be fecal matter in the air and the soap and water are free. Don’t be an asshole, WASH YOUR HANDS MORON.

I travel a lot and so I may see it more than others. But you don’t have to travel to notice this. Just visit the restroom at work or next time you’re at the mall or a restaurant. And I’m sure women are guilty of this too but betting at a lesser rate.

Nothing is more disgusting than watching an adult man come out of the stall after pooping and to walk up to the sink, check his hair in the mirror and then walk on out. I walked into the restroom at work only to find a colleague standing at the urinal and talking on the phone with an earpiece in. Yes, this fine specimen had his hands to his side, was peeing, and carrying on a conversation. Asshole. Then in mid conversation (not sure if it was English. Just sayin’) he flushed the urinal. It took all I had not to smile as he turned and saw me at the sink. He walked up, grabbed two paper towels, never broke stride in his conversation and proceeded to the door. He used the towels to grab the door handle. Is the irony of this lost on anyone?

I wash my hands and use the paper towels to open the door as well but really, couldn’t wash your hands? So I stepped up to the urinal, did my business and proceeded to the sink. Stood there for a moment to think what it might feel like to just walk out at that point. Nasty. Washed my hands and grabbed 4 paper towels. Dried my hands and headed to the door with plenty of protection to grab that germ-soaked handle.

So men, here’s the deal. If you so much as enter the restroom, use the fucking soap and water. Grab the paper towels, dry your hands and use the towels to grab the door handle. If wherever you’re at has it together, there will be a waste basket for the paper towels right beside the door. So once opened, toss them out – and if there is no waste basket, carry them to your desk or wherever and throw them out. But in the name of decency, wash your hands. And moms and dads, teach your children to do the same so they don’t grow up to be assholes!

Where to go with this

As 2012 winds down, I struggle with where to go with this website.  When I secured this name over 10 years ago, I had one thing in mind for I Got Issues: build a site for the world to post issues they had with anything from consumer products to asshole neighbors. 

I still like the idea but now, as then, I lack the technical expertise to get that sort of site done. *sigh* 

So from time to time, I post based on some current event (usually political) that gets me going.  To be honest, there are more posts that never make it to the site for a variety of reasons so the ones that are posted represent a fraction of what’s been on my mind.  

I am hoping to re-apply myself in 2013 and use the site for whatever is on my mind.  Be it an issue with a consumer product or service I’ve purchased, or an issue with an asshole neighbor or relative.  I may even use the site to post thoughts or pictures from when I’m traveling for work-related matters.  Why not?  

Hey, I’m over 50 and my web-building skills haven’t improved.  This won’t wait another dozen years for me to figure out ‘where I want to go’ with this site.  So there’s no time like the present and I’m hoping my loyal followers — both of you — will come along for the ride.

Take your call in private please

I know what you’re thinking, I missed me too!  Lots of travel lately with my new role, and loving it.  And it’s exposed me to a new world of issues, some I never knew I had!

Sitting out on the beautiful deck of the St. Petersburg Hilton, working on a report and minding my own business.  There are at least 20 tables set up out here and I was out here alone for about 30 minutes when this woman comes out yakking into her cell phone.  No problem, it’s a free world and a public space.  But with all this ‘free world, public space’ did she really need to sit at the table right next to me to continue her loud conversation? 

Seriously — what is the deal?  I escaped out here for quiet and now I hear one side of a conversation about this lady’s sales business on HSN.  Share your thoughts to this post because if this is just me, I’ll shut up and never bitch about this again, but I’m betting all of my faithful readers have a story like this to share where some clod doesn’t use common courtesy to others around them when using their cell phone. 

Oh don’t worry about me.  She is still talking as I type this out. But I can be an asshole right up there with the best of them…. I lit up my cigar 10 minutes after she sat down and I’m puffing away and enjoying myself.  (Of course she hasn’t flinched, nor has she moved, but at least we’re on an even keel now!)

Far Right is Far Out (of Touch)

So what does it take to get me back to the keyboard to write for my legion of follower?  So much has happened all around me and all around the world, but it took the likes of Rush Limbaugh to get me off my ass.  What an offensive, vile man.  (Hey, talking about Rush now.)

A bright, articulate young university student goes before a congressional committee and expresses her view that women should have access to contraception and he calls her out, by name, and calls her a slut and a prostitute.  It wasn’t innuendo or hyperbole — he said that her view “makes her a slut” and continued in the next breath that “It makes her a prostitute. She wants to be paid to have sex.”  Of course she said nothing close to what Limbaugh spewed on his radio show and when asked to apologize or to re-think his remarks, he did neither.

Now just as I respect what the young law student’s right to make her views known before the panel in Congress, I respect Rush Limbaugh’s right to disagree with her.  But he didn’t disagree with her, he attacked her.  He attempted to discredit her views by smearing and discrediting her as a human being — all as a distraction to his mindless followers.

(Yes, I think people who blindly follow Limbaugh are mindless, and no, that doesn’t make me hypocritical to what I’m saying in this post — it is an effective use of hyperbole.  Now stay with me here.  The followers have difficulty discerning between good political discourse and the spewing of hate and fear as a form of control.  They sit back, smile and exclaim “ditto.”  See?  Mindless.)

And what do the fearless Republicans in the defense of this woman’s constitutional right to free speech?  Their spines suddenly weaken and they go soft.  They know that their wives, and maybe their daughters, all use contraception.  They know that using contraception doesn’t make a woman a prostitute, because they know the difference between their wives or daughters and prostitutes.  (Couldn’t resist that one!)  They know because many of them use Viagra and their insurance covers that.  Which ironically, is used specifically so men CAN have sex.  But I digress.

Republican presidential candidate Rick Santorum appropriately and quickly came out calling Limbaugh’s remarks inappropriate, but then he let him off the hook by saying that “he’s an entertainer” and that “an entertainer can be absurd” as part of their entertainment.  Really Rick?  Limbaugh called out this young lady by her name and said she was a slut and prostitute, and that she should be required to tape her sexual encounters and post them on the internet for all of us to view — in front of millions of people.  And that is entertainment?

And where is House Speaker John Boehner on this issue?  Not sure because his remarks came through his spokesman Michael Steel.  Boehner needs to stand up like a real man and repudiate Limbaugh’s moronic remarks for all decent Americans to see — represent your party sir and call Limbaugh out, and demand he apologize.  First to the woman he called a slut, then to all women, and then to all people.

Limbaugh’s comments were offensive and should be condemned by all people, left- or right-leaning, religious or otherwise.  They were an affront to decent people and a slight to women’s health.  Rush Limbaugh was a cheating, drug abuser who has learned nothing from his past.  He should apologize and take some time away from the golden mic.

Perry’s idiotic remarks are over the top

Texas Governor Rick Perry has shown us in recent weeks why he is NOT presidential material.  Simply put, he isn’t very bright and often says stupid things.  I know, it’s hard to tell him apart from the rest of the GOP presidential wannabes, but with his comment on CNN’s State of The Union program yesterday — it will no longer be difficult to tell this idiot from the others.

“These kids made a mistake…..”  he said.  Then went on to say, “But to call it a criminal act, I think, is over the top.”  Seriously?  So it appears that when a washed up politician is scrambling to stay relevant and keep the media lights shining in his direction, he only need say something totally counter to good sense and decency and sell out, all for a piddly 5 more minutes.  Alas, another Republican backlash.  (Has Perry learned nothing during his previous 15 minutes?)

Suggesting that the rules of engagement are made for others but that “these kids” simply used poor judgement is offensive.  It is an affront to the common sense of the American people, not to mention the tens of thousands of active and retired military that played by those strict set of rules.  Mr. Perry isn’t stupid, and as a former Air Force pilot, I am certain he is well aware that defiling human remains is a crime in our military, as well as being sinful to any God-loving person — but to suggest that the U.S. Marines’ investigation of this disgusting and moronic act is due to President Obama and his administration, well there, my legions of followers, is the proof that this man doesn’t get it and is willing to sell his soul for a shot at the office he so denigrates.

Rick Perry and his mindless acolytes need only recall what they felt during the fumbled Battle of Mogadishu in the early ’90′s when we witnessed the dragging and defiling of two U.S. soldiers.  That disrespect for human remains for the sake of war was sickening then, nearly 20 years ago,  just as it was when the Abu Ghraib crimes were committed six years ago and this most recent mess with soldiers urinating on corpses.   (Hmmmm.  Abu Ghraib….. I don’t recall anyone suggesting then President Bush back off and allow the 17 soldiers that were removed from duty to ‘go free.’)

So let’s stop the political bullshit and pandering to the extreme among your followers that actually think it was ‘okay’ for these soldiers to do what they did and that the Defense Department should back down in their investigation — continue to hold our military to the highest standards and honor those that follow the rules.  Let’s stop making excuses for these grown men and women who only apologize for getting caught and show no remorse for their actions.  Let these soldiers have their day in courts-martial and if a crime was committed, hold them accountable for their actions.

Idiots

And so you have to ask, “How many Republicans does it take to screw in a lightbulb?”  The answer is later in this post — I just needed to get your attention.  What a bunch of bumbling idiots the Grand Ol’ Party has turned into.  There is plenty of dysfunction to go around as it relates to Washington partisan politics, but the Republican party simply cannot get their shit together and are in disagreement amongst themselves.  Did they think the stand-off for the past 5 days was going to produce an outcome other than the backlash they received?  A small block of morons from the T-Party voting against the majority of both houses and sending a message to over 160 million working Americans that MORE would be held for FICA after the new year.  Yes, a mixed up, confused message that in effect would raise taxes and go against a tenet of that party’s platform.  Unbelievable.

We started off the day with the leader among them, Senator John Boehner telling the American people why the two-month extension wasn’t good enough for the president’s signature, despite an overwhelming 89 – 10 Senate vote.  (And yes, he was one of the 89!)  We ended the day with a 180 and him pushing through the measure during a caucus phone call and admitting that the idiotic political tactic ”may not have been politically the smartest thing in the world.”  Man is he sharp, guess that’s why he’s his party’s top dog.

Not sure whether to laugh or cry, but the disappointment in the members that make up both houses of Congress would not go away either way.  As for how many Republicans it takes to screw in a light bulb — I have no clue.  I still can’t’ figure out how they get into the lightbulb!